Director Design and Capital Development

Department: Campus Planning Design and Development

This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
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Director, Design & Capital Development

Campus Planning, Design & Development | Physical Resources | University of Guelph

Reporting to the Senior Director, Campus Planning, Design & Development, the Director, Design & Capital Development provides senior leadership and operational oversight for the University’s multidisciplinary design, engineering, and capital project delivery functions. The current portfolio includes approximately 450 active projects with a cumulative value of approximately $750 million. This role leads through an Associate Director and four Managers, ensuring projects are prioritized, resourced and delivered with strong financial stewardship, risk management and accountability. The position focuses on integrated portfolio leadership rather than day-to-day management of individual projects.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

• Provide integrated oversight of capital project scope, budgets, schedules, cash flow, quality, risk and delivery performance across the Design & Capital Development portfolio.
• Set operational priorities, balance competing demands and coordinate internal professional resources, external consultants, contractors and project management capacity.
• Lead, coach and develop five direct reports: the Associate Director, Capital Development; Manager, Architectural; Manager, Mechanical Design; Manager, Electrical Design; and Manager, Energy Engineering.
• Bring architectural, mechanical, electrical, energy and capital delivery teams together to support coordinated design, construction and operational outcomes while respecting professional discipline authority.
• Oversee capital delivery from project initiation through design, procurement, construction, commissioning and close-out, ensuring consistent project controls and University requirements.
• Monitor portfolio forecasts, performance indicators and emerging risks; direct corrective action within delegated authority and escalate significant matters to the Senior Director.
• Oversee the integration and delivery of energy conservation, infrastructure modernization, decarbonization and climate-action projects within the assigned portfolio.
• Promote sound financial management, procurement, consultant and construction contract performance, change management and effective use of University resources.
• Implement approved departmental policies, procedures and technical standards, and champion continuous improvement in project delivery and reporting.
• Build strong relationships with campus clients and partners, and provide the Director with analysis, recommendations and briefing information to support senior-level decisions.

WHAT MUST YOU HAVE?

• A university degree in Architecture or Engineering from an accredited program.
• Current license to practice in Ontario as an Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) or as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience managing large, complex capital project portfolios, including oversight of high-value individual projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading managers and multidisciplinary professional teams across design, engineering and capital project delivery.
• Proven ability to oversee multiple concurrent projects, set priorities, allocate resources and manage budgets, forecasts, schedules, risks and performance.
• Strong knowledge of construction delivery, procurement, contracting, professional practice, building codes, occupational health and safety and institutional accountability requirements.
• Excellent judgment, communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leaders and diverse stakeholders.

WHAT WILL GIVE YOU THE EDGE?

• Leadership experience in a university, hospital, government or other complex public-sector or institutional setting.
• Experience overseeing major energy engineering, infrastructure modernization or decarbonization programs.
• Demonstrated success developing portfolio dashboards, project controls, reporting systems and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience navigating complex governance, stakeholder and operational environments while delivering capital projects on an active campus or comparable site.
• The University of Guelph campus encompasses approximately 1,000 acres, 153 buildings and 7.1 million gross square feet of space. The successful candidate will help deliver capital investments that support the University’s teaching, research, operations and long-term infrastructure needs.

Employee Type: Regular 
Position Number: 10929291 
Classification: P&M FT- Band 12    
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands 
The target hiring salary for this position is minimum and up to 96% of midpoint for the salary grade.


*Tentative evaluation; subject to committee review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 11/13/2026 Closing Date: 11/20/2026